I have struggled with my body image, as I am sure the majority of women have. There is such a pressure to be thinner that many don’t realize they have thin privilege. We are taught a very narrow vision of acceptable body types; above certain measurements, you are considered “fat.” However, even if you are not a size “small,” you may still have privilege that others do not.
In the fashion world, you have thin privilege if you can find clothing in your size, that are in-stock in physical stores with the same variety, style, and cost as smaller sizes. You don’t have to worry about not belonging in stores like Brandy Melville, where they have a “one size fits most” policy, catering to a very narrow range of body types. You have thin privilege if you don’t have to experience the insult of trends becoming popular only when smaller people start wearing them.
It’s more than just clothing. People with larger, plus-size bodies are often written off as lazy in the clinic, where doctors jump to make a diagnosis of diabetes or high cholesterol as the root of the presented problem. It is assumed that these people are unhealthy, what they eat is always judged and it is assumed their condition is an individual problem. When at work, they are more likely to be seen as sloppy and unprofessional, and are less likely to be hired if they don’t have “the look.” If you have thin privilege, you’ll always be accommodated in public spaces, not forced to buy two seats on an airplane to accommodate your size.
You have thin privilege if you aren’t the “before” of many diet ads. If you don’t feel pressured to lose weight and instead love your body, you are considered to be promoting an unhealthy lifestyle. Large bodies, for women especially, are rarely represented positively on TV. They are commonly seen as unfeminine and unlovable. Someone finding your body attractive, without fetishizing it, is a great feat of accomplishment.
You don’t have to listen to jokes and other harassment made about your weight, connecting you to villainy. Many media outlets have mercilessly shamed Donald Trump for his appearance when criticizing his actions, not realizing how they have targeted people of the same body type who haven’t caused mass pandemonium.
I am not trying to say that skinny bodies aren’t criticized, nor am I denying that those with small body types have body-image issues. You can have thin privilege and still hate your body. Society, especially the media, prides skinny bodies. Skinny bodies are seen as normal, plus-size bodies are seen as flawed. This is something that affects the entire range of genders, although much of the criticism is thrown at women. Slowly, we are moving towards a more body-positive world. Hopefully, the negativity and the policing of our bodies will eventually be a thing of the past.